Supreme Court dismisses petition challenging reduction of NEET PG 2023 cut-off to ZERO

The Supreme court on Monday dismissed the petition challenging the union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s decision to reduce the qualifying percentile of the NEET PG 2023 exam to zero.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice Manoj Misra and Justice JB Pardiwala took up the matter after the lawyer mentioned it for urgent listing. It expressed disinclination to entertain the matter and dismissed the plea.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare through the medical counselling committee (MCC), on 20^th September, announced the reduction of the NEET PG counselling 2023 qualifying percentile to zero. The Delhi-based lawyer challenged this decision under Article 32 of the constitution.

The bench questioned the locus standi of the petitioner. “What can a lawyer know about the cut-off for NEET-PG? You are not an aspirant. How are you affected?” it asked.

The petitioner contended that the matter concerns the public at large and will affect the quality of health services compromising human lives. “I’m only saying what kind of health facilities will they give? They’ll be super-specialists…… If the issue appeals to your lords, the person doesn’t matter. It is not on admission; it is on health facilities provided.” The petitioner replied.

However, the bench observed that the petitioner had no locus standi to challenge the decision. Therefore, it dismissed the plea. “You have no locus…absent any interest of the petitioner in this case, the petition is dismissed”, CJI stated. 

Written by Shagun Behal